I realize I've let this blog lapse for a while. I had a lot going on, most of it not conducive to writing. But I'm back and working on the books again.
I sent The Case of the Lost Werewolf Puppy to beta readers and an online critique group, and the reactions have been interesting. Overall, readers have liked it. I've received some excellent suggestions to make the book stronger, and I'm looking forward to sitting down and making some changes.
But I noticed an interesting trend in the critiques. Several people warned me about "info dumping" in the first chapter. It's a fair comment. This is the second in a series, and I do need to introduce the characters and get readers who may not have read the first story up to speed. I tried to do this by interspersing background information and asides by Dafydd to fill in important information. I do think I will go back and look at what really needs to be there as opposed to what can probably come out or be introduced later.
So, good comment. However, the ones who criticized me for info dumping also requested more information! Seriously, readers can't have it both ways. You can't tell a writer, in the same critique, to both take out and add more!
Part of the problem is I could only submit the first chapter to the group. If a reader wanted the entire book, they had to request it directly from me, and not everyone wanted to take the time to read the entire book, which I respected.
But it still made for an odd juxtaposition of comments.
Until next week, then! Back to writing on the latest installment, which finally has a title! The Case of Old Acquaintances. Intrigued at all?
